What makes some pieces worth thousands andother worth only a few hundred...?

If I want to start a cane collection what do I lookfor...?

How in the world do I figure out what decoys arevaluable and which ones are junk...?

video

video

video

video

view the collector's database

request a documentary: we will do our best to complete your request

Old Folk Art & Americana at upcoming auctions

pictures of Cool Folk Art & Americana

Voted #1 OFAACS document in 2008.

*** if you enjoy the documentaries old folk art offers you may make a donation. No amount is too small or too large and all donations will go towards future documentaries.

______________________________________________

Member Services

Rare African American Cane Rack- C. 1900- This wonderful carved and polychromed rack is the best that we have seen in the folk-art field. It attaches to the wall and the base sits on the floor. There are eight holes in the base for the canes, but would hold more. Near mint condition. D- 24"W x 13"Hsold $become a member to see pricesKimball M. Sterling Inc.Johnson City, TN

Rare Moravian Turtle Flask c. 1803-One of only 3 known to exist this fine example shocked the collecting world when it surfaced after being in a private collection for more than 100 years.sold $ become a member to see pircesMebane Antique AuctionMebane, NC

2/07/08 Edgefield Face Jug Sales at Auction

Our Mission at Old Folk Art is to inspire, educate, motivate, and above all keep the collecting alive for folk art and Americana! Our online publications are to be enjoyed by institutions, universities, auction house representatives, advanced collectors, and the beginner. We will update our subject matter every month. Our archives will be open to view at any time for our members only. You may call with any questions or concerns and please keep us updated on any new information out there about prices realized and new discoveries.

Sand Art by Andre Clemens

Folk Artist Elijah Pierce

Edgefield Potter - Dave the Slave

April

May

June

9/13/10 Dave Drake - Slave Potter from Edgefield SCDave Drake better known as "Dave the Slave" produced pottery in the Edgefield district of South Carolina from 1830 - 1870. Dave was an enslaved African American who not only possessed a skill that was unmatched for his time but he also could read and write. Dave would sign his wares different ways with the most common being a Date consisting of Month, Day, Year... His name... "Dave" and sometimes his masters initials... LM for Lewis Miles. On a very rare occasion Dave would inscribe a poem on the side of a jar... Usually 2 verses of this caliber... "I made this jar all of cross, if you dont repent you will be lost." All his wares to date have been found inscribed with cursive writing. What we know about Dave's LifeDave was born around 1800 and learned his pottery skills from either 3 people... Dr. Abner Landrum or his brother Amos, or Harvey Drake. It is believed that Dave learned to read and write while working at the Edgefield Hive, where publisher Abner Landrum may have taught him how to read and write... something that was illegal at the time. Dave was sold several times and worked at many of the different Edgefield potteries that were connected through marriage. He made very large pots, sometimes 20 - 30 gallons. His larger pots are the ones that were special to him... most of these will bare a poem as if they were a presentation piece. Oral history speculates that Dave was a very large man as one would have to be to turn a 30 gallon pot. It is also thought that Dave lost a leg. Again, stories say "he got drunk and lay on the railroad track" Dave is thought to have died around 1870. Most of this verbage was taken from the book "The Potters Eye" by Mark Hewitt and Nancy Sweezy. One of their last lines on his information page states this... David Drake is his name... the regrettable moniker, "Dave the Slave" should be abandoned.One of the broadest collecting marketsDave's pottery touches so many different collector basis. Of course pottery collectors but also black americana, civil war, and folk art collectors would love to own a piece of Dave. Some of Daves discovered poems:

Another trick is worse than thisDearest Miss, spare me a kiss(August 26, 1840)

i wonder where is all my relationsFriendship to all - and every Nation(August 16, 1857)

A Pretty little girl on a virgevolcalnic mountain, how they burge(August 24, 1857)

I made this jar for cashThough is called lucre trash(August 27, 1857)

David Drakes pottery wares are some of the most sought after items on the open market today. 3-4 will surface per year and offered at public auction. The poem jars are very rare and scarce... when they surface they get into 6 figures very quickly whle most of his Signed wares stay around 30k -40k.

Monkey Jugs

Recent Documentaries (members only)

Sold: Green Valley Auctions$$$ become a member to see price

advertisment

Over 5,00 page views per day1200 + active folk art collectors are members of this site